Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 13809 — Mount Upton, NY

ZIP code 13809 (Mount Upton, Chenango County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 13809 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 13
First frostOct 4
2012 zone5a

Was 5a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mount Upton, NY…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Mount Upton, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Norwich, NY — 10 miles away, elevation 988 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 13809

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Oct 4) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 13809 came on Apr 8 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5b in New York

609 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 75

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 120

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 208

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 185

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Mount Upton, NY.

Soil in Mount Upton, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 13809 is Raynham — silt loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6.5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Raynham silt loam.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 13809; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mount Upton, NY

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,236base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation44.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall79 inper year; 88 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 12 °F 32°12° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 12 °F 34°12° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 20 °F 43°20° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 32 °F 57°32° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 20 °F 37°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.94 in precipitation, 20 in snowfall 2.9❄20 JanFebruary: 2.46 in precipitation, 18.3 in snowfall 2.5❄18 FebMarch: 3.34 in precipitation, 16.2 in snowfall 3.3❄16 MarApril: 3.77 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 3.8❄3 AprMay: 3.74 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.7 MayJune: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 JunJuly: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 JulAugust: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 AugSeptember: 4.39 in precipitation 4.4 SepOctober: 4.07 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.1❄1 OctNovember: 3.15 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 3.1❄6 NovDecember: 3.25 in precipitation, 14.9 in snowfall 3.3❄15 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Norwich, NY (10 mi away); precipitation: Unadilla 2 N, NY (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

137805b
Guilford, NY · 4 mi
137765b
Gilbertsville, NY · 5 mi
138495b
Unadilla, NY · 6 mi
138595b
Wells Bridge, NY · 8 mi
138385b
Sidney, NY · 8 mi
137335b
Bainbridge, NY · 9 mi
138255b
Otego, NY · 10 mi
138085b
Morris, NY · 10 mi

New York planting zones →

Questions about 13809

What planting zone is ZIP code 13809?

ZIP code 13809 (Mount Upton, NY) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Mount Upton, NY?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 13809 is May 13; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norwich station.

When is the first frost in Mount Upton, NY?

The median first fall frost near 13809 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 142 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 13809?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 13809 get?

About 44.4 inches of precipitation a year and 79 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Unadilla 2 N station).

How hot do summers get in Mount Upton, NY?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 13809 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Raynham at the center of ZIP 13809: silt loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mount Upton, NY in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 13809 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mount Upton, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 13809 is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 13809 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 13809 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.